# Sanderson High School (North Carolina)

Jesse O. Sanderson High School, more commonly called Sanderson High School (SHS), is a co-educational 9–12 public high school located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States in the Wake County Public School System. The school was founded in 1968. It is named after a former superintendent of Raleigh public schools, Jesse O. Sanderson. Sanderson runs on a 2x4 block schedule; it was one of the first schools in the area to do so. It is known for its performing arts, athletic, and community outreach programs.

## Clubs

Sanderson's student government has received recognition for their participation in the Sanderson community. It is one of the only four high schools in the state and 131 in the country to earn the National Association of Student Councils Gold Council of Excellence in 2010.

## Performing arts

Sanderson Theatre Ensemble In 2018, Sanderson High School performed the play “26 Pebbles” by Eric Ulloa, a play about the Sandy Hook shooting, for the North Carolina Theatre Conference.
Sanderson Sandpipers The director of the Sanderson Sandpipers, Marshall Butler Jr., has been recognized as an outstanding music educator by the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Marshall Butler retired at the end of the 2015–16 school year.

## Athletics

Sanderson has won thirty-four state championships.
Men's Cross Country Sanderson's men's cross country team won the 2009 NCHSAA 4A State Championship.
Men's Soccer Sanderson's men's soccer team has won eleven 4A state soccer championships. They also once held the national record for most consecutive games without a loss at 103, and is still the state record. Since the early 1980s, they have also produced a number of Division 1 players.
Cheerleading Sanderson's cheerleading squad has won multiple state championships (2005, 2008, 2010).

## Administration

As of August 2019, Gretta Dula is the principal of Sanderson High School. Dula replaced Gregory Decker who served as the school's principal for over ten years, and was credited with raising the schools graduation rates while principal. Catty Moore, Decker's predecessor, served in the position for seven years between 2000 and 2008, and would later go on to become the superintendent of the Wake County Public School System in 2018.
| Year | Graduation Rate | +/- |
| 2006 | 78.6% | N/A |
| 2007 | 76.1% | -2.5 |
| 2008 | 77.5% | +1.4 |
| 2009 | 76.7% | -0.8 |
| 2010 | 75% | -1.7 |
| 2011 | 77.5% | +2.7 |
| 2012 | 78.6% | +1.1 |
| 2013 | 78.2% | -0.4 |
| 2014 | 82.8% | +4.6 |
| 2015 | 81.4% | -1.4 |
| 2016 | 89.1% | +7.7 |
| 2017 | 86.9% | -2.2 |
| 2018 | 84.5% | -2.4 |
| 2019 | 86.0% | +1.5 |
| 2020 | 87.3% | +1.3 |
| 2021 | 88.7% | +1.4 |
| 2022 | 81.7% | -7.0 |
| 2023 | 82.9% | +1.2 |

## Demographic & economic background

| Race | Number of Students | Percentage |
| American Indian | 4 | 0.02% |
| Asian | 63 | 3.1% |
| Black | 505 | 25.5% |
| Hispanic | 310 | 15.7% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islands | 5 | 0.02% |
| Two or More | 55 | 2.7% |
| White | 1031 | 52.2% |
| Total (2015–16) | 1973 | 100% |
As of 2012, 28% of the students receive free lunch, 4% receive reduced-price lunch, and 68% receive no lunch benefits.

## Notable alumni

* Tom Fetzer (1973), former Mayor of Raleigh and former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party
* Steve Dobrogosz (1974), pianist and composer
* Steve Kenney (1974), NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles; Offensive linesman at Clemson University
* David Sedaris (1975), noted author and humorist
* Jeb Bishop, American jazz trombone player
* Amy Sedaris (1980), author, humorist and actress; creator and star of the "Strangers with Candy" television series on Comedy Central and the 2006 major motion picture release of the same title
* Jeff Williams (1981), Chief Operating Officer of Apple Inc
* Paul Friedrich (1985), cartoon artist
* Clark Brisson (1987), All-American soccer player at the University of South Carolina; Played eight years in the National Professional Soccer League; Currently assistant coach at the University of New Haven
* David Fox (1989), swimmer at North Carolina State University; 1996 Olympic gold medalist
* Caleb Norkus (1997), former professional soccer player who played for such teams as The Carolina Railhawks, Richmond Kickers, and Puerto Rico Islanders; also played for the U.S men's national team in 1995
* Darryl Partin (2006), former professional basketball player
* Annie E. Clark (2007), women's and civil rights activist
* Matt James (2010), former college football player for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the first black Bachelor lead on season 25 of The Bachelor
* Ryan Jeffers (2016), MLB player for the Minnesota Twins
* Alim McNeill (2018), NFL defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions